I fund my Periscopes and podcasts via audience micro-donations on Patreon. I prefer this method over accepting advertisements or working for a “boss” somewhere because it keeps my voice independent. No one owns me, and that is rare. I’m trying in my own way to make the world a better place, and your contributions help me stay inspired to do that.

U.K.-based luxury eyewear brand Linda Farrow today opens its third U.S. stand-alone store at 8409 Melrose Place in Los Angeles. The store follows Bal Harbour and New York locations opened within the last 18 months, reinforcing the brand’s presence in the U.S. The brand dabbled in the L.A. retail scene with a pop-up at Platform in Culver City.
The store follows the same creative direction as the units in New York and Miami, embracing femininity and masculinity, light, texture and color, all within 1,055 square feet. Founder and creative director Simon Jablon worked closely on the store’s identity to create an atmosphere of earthy luxury within a compact footprint.

“Los Angeles has its own unique vibe and take on the international fashion scene, which is something we at Linda Farrow embrace and relate to. We couldn’t be more excited to have found the ideal space in one of best shopping streets in the world, Melrose Place,” said Jablon.
Mixing materials such as cast concrete and rough plaster with more polished elements like onyx, brass, and peach suede, the space creates a mix of textures to provide a backdrop for the glasses, which are displayed within

SOFT-SHOE: Mytheresa.com is teaming with Tod’s as part of a strategy to offer its clients one-off products from some of its best-selling labels. The latest partnership is called “Tods 80km/h,” and the footwear label has re-created its Gommino loafers as well as a pair of shearling-lined moccasins and minimal sneakers in plush velvet fabrics in a range of jewel tones, from emerald green to burgundy to a deep navy blue.
Tiffany Hsu, fashion buying director of the site, said Tod’s is one of its best-selling brands and resonates particularly well in Asia and Europe. The site, which has in the past worked with Prada, Miu Miu, Chloé and Off-White, was looking to offer customers a twist on the classic styles.

Mytheresa.com x Tod’s
Courtesy Photo

“We wanted to offer our customers something traditional that was also refreshed and contemporary, so the velvet was such a natural fit. We’ve seen this fabric become a mainstay for footwear, so to offer it in four exclusive colorways was a new spin on the usual suede that we’ve seen from Tod’s,” she added. “The sneaker was a fun addition to the mix — as one of our best-selling styles in footwear, it was important to offer this amongst

TO THE GRINDSTONE: It’s still August, but Anya Hindmarch is already smelling the autumn leaves and freshly sharpened pencils with a back-to-school style capsule collection called Bags That Work, five styles for women who live to organize and compartmentalize.
The collection is a mix of cross-body and tote bags for day, including the Vere Satchel with its zip-flap front and multiple inside compartments; the Double Zipped Chain, a rectangular number made from a series of envelope-style pouches, and the Ebury Zipped Tote, made to fit a computer or iPad.
There’s also the Nevis Tote, which allows devices to be stored upright, and the Vere Tote, which features the same zip-flap front as its smaller namesake.
Bags can be customized by adding a charm — such as a mink fried egg, a chubby leather heart or a fuzzy pair of red cherries — or by changing the strap. Pockets inside the bags are labeled for phone, cards and coins.
“I love things that work — and deliver — and I find organization deeply exciting,” said Hindmarch, adding that these bags are meant for women who jump from cars to trains and planes, and who need to find their pens, phones, notepads or board minutes quickly.
Hindmarch, who has

Last week’s XBIZ Retreat provided an unmatched opportunity to get up close and personal with the latest products from a wide variety of international pleasure products brands.XBIZ.com – Pleasure & Retail

Sybian will be returning to Sex Expo New York this year as a gold sponsor and exclusive photo booth sponsor and will be showcasing its luxury ride-on vibrator, along with related products and accessories.XBIZ.com – Pleasure & Retail

The style world has had its fair share of weird partnerships. Who could forget when Kermit the Frog modeled for the ultracool New York skate brand Supreme, or when the logo for global courier service DHL popped up on t-shirts made by Vetements, currently one of the most-watched fashion houses in Paris right now?

Dr.Dre with the help of Jimmy Iovine essentially created the blueprint when it comes to artist and celebs making money outside of music by releasing their own headphones. Jay-Z, Diddy, Lady Gaga, DJ Khaled, 50 Cent, Nick Cannon and Ludacris all have thrown their names in the hats trying to compete with the iconic Beats By Dre headphone brand. While most failed or just joined Beats By Dre there is a new company who is still willing to give people other options. Boosie Badazz is the latest rapper to decide to release his own line of headphones in collaboration with Fanstereo.

Boosie Badazz confirmed the collaboration to his 4.6 million followers on Instagram announcing his forthcoming headphones is available for pre-order.

The announcement of the Boosie Badazz collaboration follows the recent announcement of Ayo and Teo’s collection. DJ Scream also has a collection with Fanstereo as well. The “BadAzz Audio” collection will feature earbuds called the BadAzz Eirs that cost $ 109.00, two studio versions that cost $ 139.00 and a $ 99.00 pair of studio headphones called NuBump.

Fanstereo aims to work with other artists on capsule headphone collections and is looking to give the artist a new creative source of revenue.

Can’t hate on that at all.

About Fanstereo:

“Fanstereo is an entertainment lifestyle brand that connects artists and musicians directly to fans across the globe. Co-founded by celebrity-branding expert Jay Leopardi, headphone expert Steve Rois and Super Bowl Champion Walter Thurmond III, Fanstereo’s concept is at the intersection of entertainment and technology. The company’s consumer-facing products include headphones, earphones and Bluetooth speakers, designed with cutting-edge technologies from the DNA of professional audio leader, Direct Sound. Each product offers the sound quality of professional-grade audio, available for the very first time on the consumer market. With a mission to empower artists and fans, Fanstereo’s team of innovative pioneers live to inspire the next generation of pop culture.”

To learn more about Fanstereo’s products head over to their official site and if you want to pre-order yourself a pair Boosie’s headphones head here now.

A Japanese pop group hopped on the bitcoin bandwagon on Friday (January 12), dedicating themselves to singing and dancing about the cryptocurrencies that have taken the world by storm this last year. Edward Baran reports.

The style world has had its fair share of weird partnerships. Who could forget when Kermit the Frog modeled for the ultracool New York skate brand Supreme, or when the logo for global courier service DHL

Kanye West and Jay-Z will be meeting face-to-face soon to squash their latest beef, and if they smoke the peace pipe it will end a lawsuit that looms over their multi-million dollar Tidal dispute. Sources close to Yeezy and Hova with direct knowledge of…

Kanye West has reached out to Jay-Z to bury the hatchet in their latest feud … TMZ has learned. Sources familiar with the situation tell us, Kanye asked for a face-to-face with Jay, to hash out the beef that was ignited when Kanye went onstage last…

MILAN — Miu Miu will present its 14th short film as part of the Women’s Tales series in Venice on August 31 during the city’s international Film Festival. “The End of History Illusion” is directed by dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Celia Rowlson-Hall, best known for her choreography in the hit TV show “Girls” and her work on music videos by Alicia Keys and MGMT.
“I wanted to explore commercialism in the face of fear, creating a spectacle to distract and entertain, an escape from our present-day reality,” said Rowlson-Hall. She set the story during the Cold War era in a Las Vegas nuclear bunker, shaped as a picturesque family home, including a mini-golf course, a dance floor, a swimming pool and two Jacuzzis, designed to survive a nuclear war for an entire year. “When I saw the new Miu Miu collection, there was something about the textiles and colors that made me want to create characters which could come with this space,” she explained. Her vision of Miu Miu is reflected in the spirit of the film — “elastic, grounded, sensitive and risk-taking,” she said.

An image from the Celia Rowlson-Hall short film part of Miu Miu Women’s Tales series.
Brigitte Lacombe

Tesla is having a rough week. The company’s stock price fell 20% in just a few days and now the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced the Tesla Model S sedan failed to earn its best rating, the Top Safety Pick.

Over the weekend, the U.N. celebrated a new holiday of its own, International Day of the Girl, meant to raise global awareness for gender equality issues. First Lady Michelle Obama, whose initiative Let Girls Learn works to get education for 62 million girls across the world, honored the day by crafting a Spotify playlist. …News, reviews, interviews and more for top artists and albums – MSN Music
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE:Gabby Love’s top pick! Click and enjoy!

The retailer’s parent company, URBN, which also oversees Anthropologie and Free People, asked some of its salaried employees to volunteer at a fulfillment center in Pennsylvania in anticipation of a busy month, Gawker reported earlier this week. What this means is that employees at the URBN home office were being asked to work for free in order to help make sure customers got their orders speedily.

Reached for comment from The Huffington Post, the company said that employees were enthusiastic about the request:

[W]e received a tremendous response, including many of our senior management. Many hourly employees also offered to pitch in — an offer which we appreciated, but declined in order to ensure full compliance with all applicable labor laws and regulations. The dedication and commitment of URBN employees are second to none, and their response to this request is a testament to their solidarity and continued success.

Urban had been making some progress on labor practices. The retailer announced Wednesday that it would end on-call scheduling in its New York stores. But clearly it still has work to do.

The the chain doesn’t have the cleanest record when it comes to cultural or political sensitivity, either. Here’s a reminder of some other controversies Urban Outfitters has stirred in years past:

Supporting anti-gay agendas

CEO and founder Richard Hayne has donated $ 14,000 over the years to presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, who has been vocal in his opposition to gay marriage. In 2008, Urban Outfitters quickly discontinued a T-shirt that had the slogan “I support same-sex marriage.”

Appropriating Native American culture

After releasing Navajo-themed clothes and accessories in 2011, Urban Outfitters was slapped by a lawsuit from the Navajo Nation for using its name on products.

Commercializing the death of students

Someone at the the company actually thought it was a good idea to make sweatshirts emblazoned with “Kent State” along with some bloody-looking stains. Four students were killed and many others wounded in a shooting at that Ohio university in 1970. The retailer received immediate backlash and pulled the item from its site, claiming the stains were the result of discoloration and “natural wear and fray.”

Ripping off artists

Urban Outfitters has a long history of stealing other people’s designs. It’s lifted freely from jewelry sellers on Etsy and artists who are trying to sell their work online.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

With the news that Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose was caught up in the injury struggle once again, it didn’t take long for the Internets to come with the vicious and slightly unfair slander. However, Rose hasn’t made it easy on himself with recent comments and thus opened himself up for the barrage of jokes.

Earlier Tuesday, Rose was elbowed by an unnamed teammate in the face during a practice session. Thus far, the team and news outlets are saying he suffered a fractured orbital bone and will get surgery on Wednesday. Team officials have not released details on Rose’s return and this was supposed to be a big year for the hometown star and incoming first-year coach and fellow Chicagoan, Fred Hoiberg.

Now, Rose has the luxury of enduring the hundreds of tweets, memes and jokes at his expense as he heals from the fracture. As we noted earlier, some of it doesn’t feel exactly fair but Rose is in the public eye and this comes with the terroritory.

Although laughter is the best medicine, we do hope Number 1 gets back to the court sooner than later.

Check out the following pages to see the Internet’s reaction to Derrick Rose’s latest injury.

Derrick Rose deserves a hospital punch card. He has to have earned a free surgery by now.

STELLA’S GOOD CAUSE: Stella McCartney is for a second year launching lingerie designs in support of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The designer has created the Alina Playing range — a balconette bra, a soft-cup bra and a bikini brief, all in the same shade of hot pink. A percentage of the profits from the range — which retails from $ 55 for the briefs through to $ 110 for the bras — will be donated to three breast cancer charities: the Linda McCartney Centre in Liverpool, England, part of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital; the National Breast Cancer Foundation in the U.S., and the National Breast Cancer Foundation in Australia.
McCartney has tapped Cara Delevingne to appear in a campaign shot by Sean Thomas to mark the launch, which pictures Delevingne wearing the set and making a heart shape with her hands at her chest. McCartney said Delevingne “represents a generation of young women that we are really trying to reach,” adding that she hopes the campaign, to launch on McCartney’s Web site and social media channels, will “inspire all generations of women to be aware of breast cancer and be aware that preventing it is the most positive approach.” Last year, Kate Moss

When Sons of Anarchy took its final ride last fall, they went out with a song that perfectly captured the spirit of the characters and as Jax Teller reconciled with the fate he had chosen, the vocals of Jake Smith were played. Smith, aka The White Buffalo, has been captivating audiences long before SoA went off into the sunset and is making his mark again with his brooding vocals, deep and heavy lyrics with his latest record, Love and the Death of Damnation.

The record, which is another personal journey for Smith, hears the singer / songwriter branching out and finding more about himself both as a person and as an artist. I spoke to him about the new album, having his work become a part of pop culture, and his life on the road. Take a look, below:

The new album is titled “Love and the Death of Damnation,” what does that mean to you personally and musically?

I wanted a title that had elements of the album in it but with broader strokes. There’s some love, some spirituality explored in this album as well as the idea of heaven and hell.

This is your fifth record, what did you do differently on this record that you haven’t done before?

There are a few tracks that I kept feeling and sounding good. I didn’t take them to a darker place, which has taken me awhile as a songwriter to feel comfortable doing. Musically it’s more varied groove-wise than anything I’ve ever done. There are some swampy jams, there’s even a gospel song.

Many of your records are concept albums, is this record?

No, but the very first song on the album I wrote while writing my last album. It’s a bit of a continuation from the last album I guess you could say, like a bookend. This one’s just songs though for the most part.

Last fall, you were part of TV history singing “Come Join the Murder” on the finale of Sons of Anarchy. The song was written by series creator Kurt Sutter, what was it like singing lyrics written by someone else that wasn’t a cover and being a part of that important moment?

It was actually co-written with Bob Thiele and I as well but the lyrics were primarily written by Kurt. It was a unique experience as far as singing somebody else’s lyrics. It was a bit harder to feel it, but it was definitely emotional. It took me awhile to get it, the wordplay of “Come Join the Murder”. He actually wrote those lyrics without the intent of it being the finale episode’s song. It was for an earlier episode, but he loved it so much that he decided to use it as the finale.

Other songs of yours were also used in SOA; were you a fan of the show when you let the songs in the show?

No, I had actually never watched it until I got a song in it. Then I got hooked and became a diehard!

Many of your other tracks have been used in other TV/ film related projects like Californication, West of Memphis. Lone Ranger, and others. There is still a majority of people who have no idea who you are (blows my mind), but also a majority of people who discovered you through projects like this. Do you find this to be an effective way of getting your music out there?

Yeah, absolutely. Probably SOA more than any other show just due to the fact that the way they used music was so in-your-face. With the montage scenes, they really made it a part of the story and not just background fluff. Having so many songs has also helped guide people to the rest of my catalog.

While I am sure you have gotten this before, why did you opt to go under the moniker ‘The White Buffalo’ instead of using your birth name? Did you take the name from the Charles Bronson film?

Can’t sell T-shirts with the name Jake Smith on it! The idea was that The White Buffalo would be a bit more grand than just a singer-songwriter project. Could be a solo artist, a full band, trio, etc.; it adds a bit of mystique as well.

A majority of your songs are very dark, deep, and come from intense places. What is it like bringing them to life night after night on stage and playing them again? Is it a cathartic experience for you?

I try to feel the lyrics every night but it’s not exactly cathartic. In the performance, I’m trying to be passionate and think about what I’m saying which definitely gets me to a good place.

The singer shared a photo on Instagram of herself dressed in a shimmering mermaid’s tail while hanging poolside with her adorable sons. The performer paired her blue tail with a striped blue-and-white bikini top, and her pastel blue locks are seen cascading over her shoulders.

Fashion has embraced the transgender community most visibly through models and ad campaigns. Two-year-old & Other Stories, the H&M-owned label that prides itself on female diversity, is the latest brand to cast transgender models in a campaign. Lest the company be part of the crowd, it took the angle an extra step by recruiting a creative team of transgender professionals to produce a shoot for an athletic-inspired capsule collection launching in-store on Aug. 20. Photographer Amos Mac shot models Valentijn De Hingh and Hari Nef in & Other Stories’ Stockholm atelier. Love Bailey styled the shoot, working with makeup artist Nina Poon. Swedish director Ninja Thyberg, who is not transgender, captured the behind-the-scenes action for a film, “The Gaze & Other Stories.”
“There’s a lot of talk about transgender today, but for us, it was a lateral step to do [the campaign],” said Sara Hildén Bengtsson, & Other Stories creative director. Her concept was to focus on the transgender “gaze,” which is an idea to articulate and to interpret from the images. Essentially, the finished product is the result of a collaboration of all transgender individuals who are fashion professionals. It doesn’t look that different from what a nontransgender shoot might yield.
Dutch model De Hingh, who

On Friday the fashion-forward retailer launched its latest ad campaign for an athleisure capsule collection, and the ads feature two transgender models, Valentijn De Hingh and Hari Nefstylist. The shoot was also brought to life by a creative team made up of photographer Amos Mac, stylist Love Bailey and makeup artist Nina Poon, who all identify as transgender.

In a press release from the brand, & Other Stories’ creative director Sara Hildén Bengtson talked about the decision to hire models and creatives who identify as transgender.

“The fashion world is embracing transgender models and we think that’s great. But we couldn’t help to ask ourselves how the traditional fashion gaze can change if we keep the same normative crew behind the camera. So we invited five amazing creatives, all transgender, to make our latest story,” she said.

& Other Stories joins the likes of Barneys New York and Make Up For Ever in featuring transgender models in its ads. Hiring behind-the-scenes talent who are transgender is yet another exciting decision for an industry that’s much criticized for lacking diversity.

Check out more images from the campaign below, which launches in & Other Stories locations and online August 20.

Also on HuffPost Style:

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The San Francisco 49ers have apparently had enough of Aldon Smith and his antics and don’t care how many sacks he gets a season. The organization just handed him his walking papers following his latest arrest.

Aldon Smith received second chance after second chance with the San Francisco 49ers, who parted ways with their troubled linebacker Friday following his fifth run-in with the law.
Only a few days earlier, general manager Trent Baalke expressed his desire to keep Smith beyond this season, which would have been a contract year. Instead Friday, Baalke and coach Jim Tomsula met with Smith at team headquarters after he left jail to inform him he was no longer part of the team.

“It’s a sad day,” Tomsula said during an emotional news conference. “This is a day that doesn’t have anything to do about football.”

Smith was arrested Thursday night — on a day off from training camp for players — the fifth legal run-in since the team drafted him in 2011. Tomsula spoke to a couple of players but planned a team meeting Friday afternoon.

“Guys care about him, we care about that guy, deeply,” he said.

Smith had said when camp began he was healthy and in great shape, “ready to go.”

Santa Clara police arrested Smith, and accused him of drunken driving, hit and run and vandalism.

Police said Friday that at 8:46 p.m., Smith collided with a parked vehicle while parking his car, then caused further damage to the parked vehicle with his car door.

Authorities said Smith then left the scene without reporting the collision or leaving any identifying information. He later returned to the parking area where he was contacted by officers. Smith displayed “objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Officers administered a field sobriety test to Smith” and was arrested.

“Although he won’t be playing football for the San Francisco 49ers, he will be supported and helped, and he will not have to walk this path alone,” Tomsula said. “That comes from our ownership down. He will not have to walk this path alone. We’re not worried about football. It has nothing to do with football.”

PRINT PLAY: The tribal and floral prints Cynthia Vincent is known for will soon be on the wetsuits and swimwear of O’Neill.
It’s the surfwear brand’s second time partnering with a designer and follows the rollout of fall pieces done in conjunction with Anna Sui, which hit stores a few weeks ago and saw quick sell-through on pieces such as a cream-colored kimono and crochet bikini.
“We’re really careful to partner with someone who will elevate our current looks,” said O’Neill women’s design director Rachael Hill. “There’s definitely synergy there. [The designer collaborations are] not necessarily a departure for us as much as it is an expansion and kind of captivating another customer we wouldn’t get otherwise.”
The collection for summer 2016 is expected to hit retail in April and is organized into three categories: sportswear, retailing from $ 59.50 to $ 99.50; swim, ranging from $ 46 to $ 110; and wetsuits priced between $ 140 to $ 200.
The company’s now turned to its holiday collection, which will also infuse designs from Vincent and could possibly include party dresses, chunky sweaters and giftable items, such as cosmetic bags or footwear. However, Hill said the collection is still in its early stages.
Additional designer collaborations are possible for the future

We didn’t need another reason to love Ruby Rose, but this week she gave us one.

The Australian actress stepped out looking as cool as ever in a soccer jersey that we can actually snag for ourselves (for $ 74). Other celebs wowed in equally affordable outfits — Lea Michele looked zen as she stretched in a $ 48 tank top and Gigi Hadid proved that you’re never too old to love Disney in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt.

According to oddsmakers William Hill, Radiohead are now the frontrunner for recording the theme song to the latest James Bond film. Hill suspended bets after getting a five figure wager from an anonymous customer. The wager puts Radiohead ahead of Sam Smith, last week’s favorite. Hill closed betting on the identity of the theme maker, after money came pouring in on Smith.RTT – MusicWebcam Performers Wanted – Earn $ 100,000 per year!

Who would have thought I could name two places off the top of my head, and both within driving distance, that serve a vegan pineapple upside-down cake? (I am not vegan, by the way.) Who would have thought that deviled eggs topped with a tiny piece of house-cured smoked catfish would be something I could crave? Or that a spot that specializes in fried chicken and waffles would also offer a kale Cobb salad with grilled chicken and goat cheese, slightly drizzled with lemon juice?

BBQ and soul food spots with a farm-to-table, fresh, and organic twist are rocking all over L.A., and I’m officially declaring it a movement. Let’s call it Comfort Food Moderne—a little bit leaner than the old-fashioned style, and in some cases half-vegan. Who thought brussels sprouts were going to be in fashion . . . ever? Really, I didn’t see that coming.

First, a spot called Boneyard Bistro opened in Sherman Oaks. There is a wedge: iceberg lettuce, blue cheese, and over-the-top bacon, but there’s also mesclun greens with a balsamic vinaigrette and a Mediterranean chopped salad with grilled artichokes and shiitakes. Fried mac and cheese has very little to do with health, but there’s also a quinoa salad and pan-roasted salmon on the menu. The ribs are memorable, but there are also beer-steamed mussels. And by the way, who knew there were that many varieties of beer? (They also feature an extensive wine list and both Scotch and bourbon tasting menus.) I watch in amazement as the six foot two guy sitting in the corner can’t quite get a bite out of the O.M.G., an eight-ounce burger topped with onion rings, onions (yes, double onions), tomato, pickles, house-made bacon, and cheddar cheese. OK, so they may only have one (delicious) foot in healthy eating.

Then Post & Beam opened and took Comfort Food Moderne to a whole new level. A hidden gem in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza shopping center, loop around the parking lot three times and there it is: the mid-century modern architecture quietly signals you’ve arrived. Post & Beam is a collaboration between local legend restaurateur Brad Johnson (whose Roxbury on Sunset is deeply missed) and brilliantly talented chef Govind Armstrong, who first burst on the L.A. food scene as a teenager at the original Spago and has been honing his own style ever since. Each has an open, generous, and gentle spirit that can be felt the moment you open the door. Or rather, the moment the friendly security guard opens the door for you and smiles as he lets you in, almost as if you’ve been given permission to enter a private exclusive club. Mind you it’s an exclusive club with excellent acoustics. Note to restaurant owners everywhere: Just because it’s noisy, doesn’t mean people are having fun!

Craft cocktails, oh my! One of our guests declared theirs the best Paloma she’d ever had (Palomas are also trending in L.A.), the mojito was apparently divine, and the tequila gimlet with fresh lime juice rivaled any at a five-star hotel bar. Not to be missed are the perfectly textured shrimp and grits with a smoky almost-chipotle flavor (the appetizer size is big enough for four to share), the aforementioned catfish-topped deviled eggs, and the hot sauce in a squeeze-jar on the table, house-made with a medley of peppers grown on-site. And it’s all served on colorful Fiestaware, in case you didn’t realize you were having a good time. And can we discuss the collard greens? I never thought I’d write that sentence. I have no idea why they were so good, but they were equally matched by the remarkably light cornmeal-crusted catfish and the sugar snap peas with local carrots and spring onions. Save room for the P&B sweet potato pie served with house-made whipped cream and savor each bite—part of the fun of Post & Beam is just hanging out.

Then Barrel and Ashes opened its doors on Ventura Boulevard. It’s a riff on Texas BBQ by star chefs Tim Hollingsworth, former chef de cuisine at The French Laundry and Rory Herrmann, former chef de cuisine of Bouchon in Beverly Hills, and backed by restaurant impresario Bill Chait. Expect a wait even if you have a reservation. Expect it to be slightly expensive. Cool your heels and pretend you’re in New York. And the moment you sit down, order their chicken wings even if you’ve never liked them before. Their smoked free-range chicken is also divine. There is a Caesar salad made with Tuscan kale but, on the other hand, there’s also a Frito pie piled with chili, cheddar, sour cream, and green onions—a Texas version of nachos? You might wish there were subtitles for your friends across from you at the table because you won’t be able to hear one word they’re saying, but that won’t stop you from diving in in unison to the sizzling hoe cake—some combination of butter, butter, butter, corn meal, and I don’t know if it’s maple syrup or honey—served in a cast-iron skillet. You’ll wish you’d ordered two.

And then there’s the candidate for what I call Excellence Where You Least Expect It. Practically in a strip mall on Pico Boulevard in mid-city L.A. is a funny spot called My Two Cents that was quietly opened in 2013 by former celebrity private chef Alisa Reynolds. She has a tough no-nonsense manner; soft, deep voice; modest smile; and a dry wit. She slyly says she’s half-vegan. At her little hole-in-the-wall—that does serve vegan options—the size of the pork chop rivals any steak house in town. Order at the counter, sit at one of the community picnic tables, and find a little patience—everything is cooked to order—as you listen to the slightly loud rap, maybe Pharrell Williams’s “Happy.” Don’t be surprised if the diners at the restaurant spontaneously (or with some prodding from chef Alisa) break into dance.

The menu is inventive and unusual. In addition to the shrimp and grits, traditional biscuits, pulled pork, and dirty rice and greens, there’s something called gries (that would be grit fries), a fried green tomato BLT po’ boy, and a vegan spaghetti and black-eyed pea stew. And I will argue that her beet salad—the beets cooked on-site, served with organic greens and a tiny bit of goat cheese—may be the best in the world. Yes, I really just said that. The desserts are vegan and not (peach cobbler comes in both varieties), and then there’s one of those vegan pineapple upside-down cakes. As you take a sip of the fresh mint tea, take notice of the tattoo on chef Alisa’s arm. It is an image of a knife, then the plus sign, then the image of a fork, then the equal sign, and then, the image of a heart.

It’s not a long time ago and it’s certainly not in a galaxy far, far away, but Star Wars is in London as the Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back gets the Secret Cinema treatment – a real world mock up of some of the most famous scenes from the franchise, much to the delight of those attending with their own intergalactic identities at a secret location in the British capital. Joel Flynn reports.

Welcome to Outrage Watch, HitFix's (almost) daily rundown of entertainment-related kerfuffles. Not anxious enough already? Get your fix of righteous indignation below, and stay posted for outrage updates throughout the week. Courtney Love wants you to see the new Kurt Cobain documentary. Just not that new Kurt Cobain documentary. Lawyers for the Nirvana frontman's widow order have issued a cease and desist letter aimed …News, reviews, interviews and more for top artists and albums – MSN Music
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE:Gabby Love’s top pick! Click and enjoy!

Sometimes you find that perfect strawberry and you just need to photograph it — you know, for the sake of history. That’s obviously what Kendall Jenner was doing on Friday, when she shared a photo of such a fruit, right? Because that’s what she’s calling attention to.

The buzzwords in nails right now are natural and gentle—a recent Mintel report found that 67 percent of polish fans are interested in natural and low-chemical nail polishes and products. I blame gel manicures—too many…

I feel like wedding dress designers sometimes fly off the handle. In an effort to give editors and brides something they haven’t seen before, designers sometimes throw out wedding dresses in shocking colors or or…

When the image of 80-year-old literary icon Joan Didion in Céline’s spring campaign first started circulating online, the outpouring of love and admiration from all corners of the Internet was unparalleled. And then just days later, Saint Laurent creative director Hedi Slimane unveiled the latest poster child for his brand of louche, rock ’n’ roll luxury—none other than Joni Mitchell. Needless to say the fashion blogopshere was atwitter once again.

Now it seems that some seriously stylish gents are trying their hand at modeling, too. Music legend Neil Young was cast in Supreme’s spring campaign dressed in the label’s simple box logo tee, flannel shirt, and hat, and today billboards of music impresario Quincy Jones, the new face of Buscemi—a sneaker line designed by Jon Buscemi, cousin of actor Steve—popped up on the Sunset Strip in L.A. Dressed in a suit, flanked by his signature piano and headphones, the iconic music producer balances Old World sensibilities with signature flair. But it’s not the mogul’s first turn in front of a fashion photographer—back in 2006, he appeared alongside Molly Sims in ads for Jimmy Choo. Given the current trend for older, wiser models, who’s to say what leagues of distinguished gentlemen the new season will bring? Here’s hoping that Sean Connery trades in his kilts for Prada fall 2015, or that Anthony Hopkins swaps out his Savile Row suits for Loewe.

Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of movie stars Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, is fashion’s newest “It” girl. Her appearance at the Chanel Paris-Salzburg show in New York this week solidified the title. At just 15 years old, the budding actress is sure to take over Hollywood, but right now we’re more excited about what she has in her closet.

A quick glance at Depp’s Instagram reveals funky Prada heels and glow-in-the-dark Chanel running sneakers. Two things we obviously can’t live without. Although it probably helps to have incredibly chic parents, the teen appears to make the bold choices of a seasoned fashionista.

Here are nine reasons why Lily-Rose Depp is going to take the fashion world by storm.

Miranda Lambert has chosen “Little Red Wagon” as the latest single from her album Platinum. The track features an uptempo beat and lyrics which include, “You can’t ride in my little red wagon / The front seat’s broken and the axel’s draggin’ / No you can’t step to this backyard swagger / You know it ain’t my fault when I’m walkin’ jaws droppin’.”RTT – MusicWebcam Performers Wanted – Earn $ 100,000 per year!

Will Chris Brown be able to charm audiences as the star of a romantic comedy? He might not seem like the best choice for a romantic lead, but he's going to get the chance to try to get his fans to fall in love with him all over him again in "Think Like a Man." The movie is based on a self-help book aimed at teaching women what really goes on in the minds of men when it comes to relationships (sadly, it won't focus on Brown's own brain). Brown has had a couple minor acting roles, prior to this new gig.

If Adele’s new album follows the track set forth by her previous two, it will likely be titled “25.’ While there is no telling when exactly the album will premiere, let’s hope it’s before the end of 2014.

Before taping the second-ever episode of his new late night talk show on Sunday night in New York City, Oliver took questions from audience members, one of whom asked him about his favorite part of the set.

Oliver quickly walked over to his set’s background, which at first glance looks like the Manhattan skyline, but upon closer inspection you see that it contains iconic buildings and structures from all over the world, like Seattle’s Space Needle, the Egyptian pyramids and Notre Dame in Paris.

But Oliver’s favorite addition? That would have to be the castle Dragonstone from HBO’s “Game Of Thrones.” It’s the one that’s tucked in next to the Empire State building, right over Oliver’s right shoulder:

You know, this one:

For a better look, watch the clip from Sunday night’s episode skewering the White House Correspondents Dinner below.

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